Spirit Works Straight Rye Finished in Sloe Gin Single Cask #4 Spring 2022 (Lost Lantern)

Rating: 16/23 Sloe gin finishing is a controversial choice, and I'm surprised by its use, yet also intrigued. Nose: Spicy with a robust herbal quality, reminiscent of dill and peppermint. It's quite rich, featuring a fruity sweetness likely from the sloe gin. Based on the aroma, the gin seems to be working well. While specific scents are hard to discern, the overall impression is a very pleasant, decadent rye nose. Palate: Initially less full and rich than anticipated, it soon reveals big rye spices and herbs. It gives off a vibe similar to a nice 6-year-old MGP. There's also a pleasing leathery woodiness. Then, the fruity sweetness from the gin begins to appear. It's progressing well, but then the gin's bitterness intrudes. Notes of juniper, along with peculiar lemon and orange flavors, clash with the rest of the rye palate. Finish: Unfortunately, the finish remains quite bitter. The dominant flavor is that juniper bitterness, which I strongly dislike. There are still clear spices, along with hints of herbs and sweet fruits, but the juniper is overwhelmingly present. - Conclusion - Many flavors are appealing, but the gin unfortunately detracts significantly, though not in the way I might have expected. Pikesville (16/23) is decidedly better than this. While it offers less pure rye character, it lacks such a jarring element. My single barrel bottling of George Dickel 15 (15/23) is less bitter, though more tannic. Despite the less-than-ideal tannins, they taste more natural. These two are quite close, but I would choose the Dickel. I'd rate this a 13 or 14, possibly a 12, and could be convinced of a very low 15. There's enough enjoyable quality here for occasional sipping, but its flaws make it equally challenging. I'm leaning towards a 13. Revisiting the next day, the bitter flavor is thankfully much reduced! A juniper bite remains and is more prominent than I prefer, but this now tastes more like a coherent product. There's a lot going on, and I'm even detecting some pleasant caramel. I still don't care for the juniper, but I definitely like it better now. This is becoming competitive with Whistlepig PiggyBack (16/23). Color me surprised! It has a cocktail-like sweetness, but doesn't quite cross that line. Pikesville is no longer the clear favorite. I believe this will be another 16 for Lost Lantern! In fact, I could even see it as a 17. I suspect that another year in its original cask, instead of the time spent in the gin cask, would have been beneficial before its aging in the sloe gin cask. Thank you to the person who shared this one! It's quite unusual, but it grew on me during sampling. It remains a definite challenge, though.

Back in the 80s, when big hair, popped collars, and exotic cocktails (Pina Coladas, Bay Breeze, Alabama Slammers, Kamakazis) were the norm, I'd often order a Sloe Gin Fizz at clubs or bars. Someone, now long forgotten, introduced me to it. Sweet and sour with bubbles. Now, it's all come together: my past world merging with my current whisky sipping. I never would have considered mixing the two. But here it is. Now, let me put on “Take on Me,” watch Top Gun, and relive my younger days with some whisky. A nose that lures, entices, and confuses. It’s a unique and strange combination of aromas that are pleasant individually. But when combined, they leave you scratching your head yet wanting another sniff. Imagine Red Licorice and cedar sawdust, mixed with dill and ginger ale, then stored in a cellar next to old, musty library books. As odd as it sounds, you're drawn to smell it again. You can't help yourself. A sip onto the palate, what starts off seemingly easy becomes intensely hot. Once the intensity subsides, you can begin to detect some flavors. Sweet grenadine that then transforms into cherry NyQuil mixed with Ginger ale. As it starts to fade, it turns bitter and spicy with lemon oil and black pepper. Water is needed to cool it down a bit. Adding an ice cube on this hot summer evening, water brings out brown sugar and vanilla notes and tones down the cherry's dominance. It's definitely an improved whiskey with water or ice. That bitter, peppery finish continues to fade, and ultimately, what remains on the palate is a flavor of cherries and cedar wood. This lingers for a fair duration, finally leaving the palate woody and dry, like chewing on a toothpick. The nose is unlike anything I've ever encountered before. The unique aroma is definitely the strongest aspect of the whiskey. The cherry flavor from the Sloe Gin is well infused. However, it does dominate and overshadows the other flavors, possibly masking some that aren't strong enough to break through. It's definitely young and vibrant, and the added punch in abv is always good. It’s good, and I would pick one up if I happened to see it on a shelf. But I wouldn’t specifically seek it out. Thanks for the generous pour. [86/100] [Tasted: 7/23/22]

You know the saying “like father, like son” or the equivalent? I believe everyone here, or at least those reading this, deviates from that adage. When I was growing up, my parents, who were immigrants working two demanding jobs (secretary and an electrician), would scrutinize every potential purchase and then, when possible, haggle intensely to save even a small amount. A common scenario—them at our local produce market buying vegetables: “When did these arrive? Do you have fresher ones in the back? If I buy several items, what's the discount?” and so on. Now, here we are…examining a bottle of spirit that's only three years old, finished in something called “sloe gin.” I'm not even familiar with that. I just did a quick online search and proceeded to spend $100 on it. See… if I were from the previous generation, from a working-class immigrant background, I would have questioned, “$100 for this three-year-old? I can get a ten-year-old of a well-known brand for half that. You should offer a significant discount for an unknown distillery using a peculiar gin finish. How about this… I’ll pay $50 for it. That seems reasonable.” But, alas, we belong to a different era. And I suspect our children will be even further removed from that traditional mindset. They’ll likely be celebrating with this bottle, creating short videos online. So… this spirit is… peculiar. It's a two-year rye, finished in sloe gin (which a brief online search revealed is gin sweetened with berries). I truly enjoy the aroma… it's fruity without being overly sweet. Reminiscent of juniper and berries… as expected. The nose is outstanding. The taste is somewhat unusual… a slight bitter note and an intense heat that makes you feel every percentage point of the alcohol content. I added water, which reduced the heat but also muted the flavor, making it resemble a high-rye bourbon. It’s an intriguing experiment, but not compelling enough to warrant purchasing a bottle. This brand's products are pricey, and I believe the lesson learned here is to ask pertinent questions to determine suitability. Some of their offerings are excellent for everyone (like a specific higher-rated release), while others aren't universally impressive (like this one).